Transport

The lack of regulations for moto-taxis has led to the growth of potentially serious problems. Already, moto-taxi drivers have taken over the streets of many cities, parking at will and operating as they see fit. The authorities, who target traffic violators, focus on traditional public transport vehicles, leaving moto-taxis free to take over intersections and sidewalks, often leaving pedestrians no option but to walk in the streets to get around them.

Permalink | Comments

Dr. Gaspard SEM, of the Hospital Saint-Michel in Jacmel, said in June of 2013 that a majority of the cases they see come in at the emergency unit and outpatient clinic have been victims of accidents involving moto-taxis. They divided them into groups by adult and children cases, and then, within the groups, by sex. Adult men numbered 171 instances over the months of May and June, female 58, over the same period. There were 21 cases involving children over the same two months, 10 boys and 11 girls.

Permalink | Comments

Some of the dangers you meet with while riding on a moto-taxi include everything from burning the skin on your leg, exposed or even covered, on a tail pipe, falling off if you don't have something (or someone) to hold on to and the overly cocky driving styles of some of the drivers. While one certainly feels smart when not trapped by a long line of traffic, the meanderings of the drivers, who bob and weave through traffic, can be terrifying, especially with the lack of proper safety gear for passengers.

Permalink | Comments

Motorcycle taxi drivers have been mandated to wear their helmets as of July 15th. In an announcement by the National Police and the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, it was disclosed that new measures have been set to heighten security of motor vehicles in general, with that of the motorcycle taxis of special note. Director of Traffic and the Traffic Police, Commissioner Will Dimanche says that the drivers should be part of an obligatory association and have helmets that are uniquely numbered.

Permalink | Comments

On August 24, 2003, an aircraft from Tropical Airways that left the city of Cap-Haitian to Port-de-Paix crashed and burned in a sugar cane field shortly after takeoff. Many people who watched the airplane as it started having difficulties reported that saw smoke coming out of the front door of the aircraft just before the crash

Permalink | Comments

One of the major goals of President Antoine Simon was to build a railroad linking Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitian.

To make this possible, Antoine Simon contracted with American companies such as "MacDonald Contract" to build a railway line between Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien. Included in that contract was the cultivation and export of sugar and bananas by the Haitian American Sugar Company. That same contract led to the paving of streets and electrification of Port-au-Prince which facilitate car transportation in Haiti.

Permalink | Comments